Forging and Deep Drawing
Forging is the process of shaping metal or metal alloys by hammering, pressing, or rolling them into shape with great pressure. This process can be done with manual tools, with a power hammer, or with a hydraulic press. While the process has been around since ancient times, innovations in metalworking machinery and advances in machinery technology have made this process even more efficient.
Deep drawing is a metal forming process in which a piece of metal is passed through a die to produce a desired shape. The die is usually mounted on the press or in a vise and the metal is drawn (pulled) onto the die to achieve the desired shape. The die is usually quite complex, composed of multiple punched and shaped sections that are shaped together. The metal is then cold-worked, concentrating the force and hardness of the metal in specific areas where it is needed. This results in a piece of metal that is rigid and uniform in its shape.
Deep drawing is an important process for many industries such as automotive, aerospace, and electronics. The process often involves multiple layers of metal being formed into a desired shape, with each layer being pulled deeper and further stretched for a customized finished product. In aerospace applications, deep drawing is often used to generate complex geometries that are smaller and lighter than can be achieved with traditional machining. In the automotive industry, deep drawing is used to create components such as side doors, fenders, and engine blocks.
Deep drawing and forging are both processes used to shape metal and metal alloys into desired shapes and forms. The difference between them is that while forging relies on compression to achieve its shape, deep drawing uses tension. Both processes are useful in the manufacture of automotive, aerospace, and electronics components and the choice of which one to use depends on the application and desired shape.
